Effects of gamma-irradiation on the gonadal cells of Drosophila melanogaster under varying conditions of hybrid dysgenesis

Comparative analysis was carried out with respect to the results of combined effects of gamma-irradiation and transposition of mobile elements in Drosophila, depending on the succession of their application. As turned out, introduction of the P and hobo elements into the M' line, prior to irradiation, resulted in decreased number of unfertilized eggs and reduced the proportion of flies killed at the larval and pupal stages. However, opposite effects were shown, when the P element was introduced following irradiation: the number of unfertilized eggs and that of the flies killed at the larval and pupal stages has significantly increased, as compared to the control. Interaction between the processes induced at the level of DNA repair both by gamma-irradiation and the P' elements' transposition is suggested.     

Regulation by alcohols and anions of soluble ATPase activity in chloroplasts and mitochondria

The alcohols and anions present at the medium before the beginning of ATPase reaction increased or decreased the lag-time of ATPase hydrolysis by chloroplast coupled factor according to the extent of their inhibitory or stimulating action. The effect of alcohols and anions on the ATPase activity of coupled factor of chloroplasts and mitochondria develops less than 2 s in case of their introduction during the ATP hydrolysis.     

Evaluation of substrate specificity of biosensor models based on strains degrading polycyclic aromatic compounds

Models of microbial biosensors based on 11 strains of degraders of surface-active substances (SASs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied. Substrate specificity, sensitivity, and stability of biosensor models were comparatively evaluated.Translated from Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 64–71.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Reshetilov, Iliasov, Fesay, Ivashchenko, Taranova, Winther-Nielsen, Emneus.     

Features of transfection and expression of cDNA for the human dystrophin gene, delivered into muscles of mdx mice using MF-2 synthetic microspheres]

The number of dystrophin-positive myofibers (DPM), that appeared in different skeletal muscles of mdx mice after a single injection of synthetic microspheres containing the full-length human dystrophin cDNA within the pHSADy expressing vector into femoral quadriceps muscle, was examined on cryostat sections. Injection of 25 micrograms cDNA resulted in the occurrence of 1, 2.4, 5.8 and 4.8% of DPM in the treated muscle in 1, 7, 21, and 60 days after the injection respectively. 7, 21, and 60 days after the treatment, these values comprised 2.1, 4.3 and 1% in the same muscle of the contralateral leg, and 5.5, 8.4, and 1% in the gluteal muscle. Expression of the full-length human dystrophin (427 kDa) in the muscle of the transfected mdx mice was observed. The presence of the transfected construction in skeletal muscles, heart, brain, lungs, and fetuses was demonstrated PCR. Utilization of the FISH technique with biotinilated pHSADy construct as a DNA probe showed that 7 days after the injection, the MF-2 microspheres were present in 70% of myoblast nuclei, in 64% of nuclei of gluteal muscles, and in 62% of the contralateral quadriceps nuclei. 21 days after the treatment, these values were 41, 29, and 45%, respectively. The MF-2 microsphere were detected in the nuclei of the blood, brain, heart, and lung cells, as well as in the placenta and tissues of 18-day-old fetuses. Our results demonstrated the high efficiency of microsphere-mediated transfer of gene constructs into cell nuclei, their long-term intranuclear persistence, and the ability to direct expression for at least 2 months after injection. The MF-2 microspheres attract special interest in respect to the targeted delivery of gene constructs into the nuclei.     

Mechanism of glycerol and methanol action on soluble ATPase of mitochondria

The effects of methanol, butanol, glycerol, glucose, sucrose and inorganic anions on the activity of soluble ATPase from mouse liver mitochondria were studied. Glycerol inhibited, while methanol stimulated the enzyme activity uncompetitively with respect to ATP and competitively with respect to each other. Glycerol-induced inhibition of ATPase was competitive with respect to sulphite; methanol competed with thiocyanate for the enzyme activity. The Arrhenius plots for ATPase revealed bends at 20 degrees and 30 degrees C in the presence of sulphite, chlorine, thiocyanate, glycerol and methanol. It was assumed that all the compounds tested influenced soluble ATPase by changing the nucleophilic activity of H2O.     

Synchronization of proliferating cells in the liver, gastric glands and duodenum

Multiple injections (5-6 times) of hydroxyurea to hepatectomized rats lead to synchronization of 78% of proliferating cells in the regenerating liver. The amount of DNA-synthesizing cells of the foveolar epithelium of the pyloric glands of the gastric mucosa increases 2.7-fold, the proliferation in slowly renewing Brunner glands of the duodenum is dramatically activated.     

Effect of anions on the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles

The effects of anions on the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles from mouse liver cells were investigated. Thiocyanite decreased the ATP hydrolysis, acting as a competitive inhibitor with respect to sulfite. All the anions tested changed the ATPase activity noncompetitively towards Mg-ATP. The hydrolysis of CTP, GTP, ITP and UTP was insensitive to sulfite and thiocyanate. In the presence of Mn2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Ba2+ an anion-dependent hydrolysis of ATP took place. It was assumed that the anions control the rate of the limiting step of the ATPase reaction, since sulfite and thiocyanate change the activation energy of ATP hydrolysis. The data obtained are discussed in terms of a previously proposed mechanism of the anions effect on the activity of mitochondrial ATPase.